Privacy (was RE: FYI: MEDIA & Greenpeace

Paul Wakfer (70023.3041@CompuServe.COM)
07 Dec 96 18:59:45 EST


Now we have come to an issue which I think is important in the here and
now, and about which I seem to have serious differences in viewpoint from most
others. I would like to see what others think of my idea. I do not think that
privacy is "evil", but simply that it is counterproductive to communications
and to mutual understanding in human relations. In addition, in my view a
person who has high self esteemm, ie. is proud of all his/her thoughts and
actions should have no need for any privacy and, in fact, should be completely
happy to have these things all open to the public.

In our present society, where scarciety rules and it is necessary to
retain privacy of ideas which might produce wealth for oneself, it seems that
some kind of privacy is necessary. For an alternative to this which I believe
is portrayed very convincingly (and which I just loved when I read it) I
recommend readers to James P. Hogan's "Voyage from Yesteryear"

In all my dealings with others, I try to be as open and revealing of my
inner most thoughts as possible. I reject totally the idea that "white lies"
are OK. Furthermore, I have stated many times that my desire to be able to
communuicate with fidelity what I am is so great (and I seem not be able to
accomplish this by standard interpersonal methods), that I would very much
welcome a human augmentation which would allow us all to transmit and receive
each others thoughts. I have stated that if such an augmentation were possible,
then I would volunteer to be the first to allow others to read his thoughts. I
believe that it would (eventually) be a much less violent and generally better
world, if everyone could read everyone else's conscious mind whenever they
liked. (Although if instituted suddenly it might lead to more than half the
world's population killing each other.)

My basic point here is to question the rationality of anyone valuing privacy.

Let's hear what others think of this.

-- Paul -- Phone: 909-481-9620 Pager: 800-805-2870

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